Integrated information databases — One- stop chemical research for the information specialist

With the burgeoning number of online files provided by an increasing number of vendors, information specialists will need more sophisticated capabilities to retrieve online information. Integrated databases provide a means for online searchers to retrieve information holistically. Three online developments by vendors will improve information retrieval: (1) simultaneous multi-file searchers; (2) crossover between separate files; (3) tagged retrievals that correlate to like records in other files. Simplicity in software design tends to engender rigid systems, such as menu-driven software, while flexibility for searching encourages complexity in software design. Vendors will need to balance these elements in integrating databases. Where should the information industry be going to make life easier for the information specialist and end user? Combined full-text, bibliographic, and numeric files; dictionary and thesaurus files for term and strategy generation; and artificial intelligence interfaces will be part of the new systems that facilitate searching in the future.